Kids Count

1. Brainstorm with students about what they might be able to do to help endangered species. Remind them that it is often that no one realizes how important each species is in the environment and what types of habitats are needed that leads to habitats being destroyed.

Students of today will be the ones who will need to help make a difference tomorrow. Help them learn what they can do now so they can get a head start on making a difference.

2. Use Internet sites to help them develop a plan of action or outline some steps they might use at home, in their community and at school to help.

Visit What Schools Can Do to Help (http://www.nwf.org/endangered/kids/g7kidsdo.html )

Direct students to this site and they will find 8 suggestions. Have them copy or print out the ideas and then discuss which they might use. Add other ideas from group brainstorming and use the list to have them develop a plan of action.

The National Wildlife Federation site has information on its pages dealing with endangered animals which provides links and ideas on topics such as how to setup a backyard habitat, write to your legislators and investigate what is happening in your region to help. Use information from these pages to add to your plan.

Visit the Kids Corner, at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Links to Awareness and understanding, habitat restoration, data gathering and sustainable use of Earth's resources provide a succinct list of ways that kids can help.

Check out Peterson's Conservation site for more helpful hints on how to help.Peterson's Perspective: Conservation

3. Write articles about your plan and the activities your group will be working on for your school or local newspapers. Keeping your community informed will help your cause as well.

4. Class or individual science projects may be another way to help let others know what your group is doing to help. Kids can make a difference - let others know.